Alcohol-related Crimes

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many respondents to the British Crime Survey believed their assailants were under the influence of alcohol when they were assaulted in each year since the statistics were first compiled.

Hazel Blears: The British Crime Survey (BCS) asks respondents whether they believed the offender was under the influence of drink. A table showing the trend for all BCS violence since this question was introduced in the 1996 BCS can be found on the Home Office website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimeew 0203 tables bvv.html_violent

Child Abuse

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) gender and (b) familial relationship to the child victim was of offenders in substantiated child abuse cases in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) physical abuse, (ii) emotional abuse, (iii) sexual abuse and (iv) cases of neglect.

Hazel Blears: The information is not collected by the Home Office in the form requested. The available information is taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database and is given in the table. It relates to those found guilty of sexual offences against minors and cruelty to or neglect of children. It is not possible to determine the number of offenders found guilt of physical or emotional abuse against children. Neither is it possible to determine the gender of the child victim or the familial relationships as the individual circumstances of the offences are not collected.
	
		Number of offenders found guilty at all courts for certain offences(2)England and Wales 1999 to 2003
		
			 Offence Males Females Total 
		
		
			 Sexual offences against minors(3) 
			 1999 2,691 33 2,724 
			 2000 2,456 23 2,479 
			 2001 2,388 22 2,410 
			 2002 2,511 30 2,541 
			 2003 2,402 32 2,434 
			 Cruelty to or neglect of children(4) 
			 1999 199 270 469 
			 2000 201 247 448 
			 2001 192 223 415 
			 2002 197 247 444 
			 2003 223 271 494 
		
	
	(2) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(3) Excludes those sexual offences where the age of the victim cannot be identified in the wording of the offence.
	(4) Offences against the Person Act 1861, sec 26 and the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

Child Abuse

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were killed by their parents or carers in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Information on homicide is published annually in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest available information can be found in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 02/05—"Crime in England and Wales 2003/2004: Supplementary Volume l: Homicide and Gun Crime". Table 1.04 gives data on victims under 16 years by relationship of victim to principal suspect. The Home Office does not collect statistics on carers as a separate category.
	The website address for the publication is: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbpubs1.html

Christopher Alder

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations his Department has received on the Christopher Alder case; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: During the last three months, the Home Office has received representations in the form of correspondence on three matters.
	The first was from the Clerk to Humberside Police Authority regarding the ill health retirement of officers who were present at the death of Christopher Alder. The second, also from the Clerk to Humberside Police Authority, was regarding the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) review of the Christopher Alder case.
	The third was from the solicitor's for the son of Christopher Alder regarding the Judicial Review of the Home Secretary's decision not to hold a public inquiry.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to answer the letter dated 8 December 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Ayesha Siddiqi.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 3 February 2005.

Correspondence

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to correspondence dated 21 December concerning a previous letter dated 21 November regarding a constituent Ms Christine Murgwisi, Reference M18542/4.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 2 February 2005
	I replied to the hon. Member on 27 January 2005.

EC Legislation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards the amendments to the proposal to a Council Decision establishing the European Refugee Fund for the period 2005 to 2010, OJ C 318 volume 47 of 22 December 2004, regarding the inclusion of textual reference to (a) those in need of special medical treatment and (b) repatriation in conditions of dignity; and what his policy is towards the inclusion in the Commission text of measures taking account of gender-related issues.

Des Browne: The final text of the Council Decision of 2 December 2004 establishing the European Refugee Fund for the period 2005 to 2010 (2004/904/EC) published in the Official Journal on 28 December 2004 (OJ L 381 28.12.04 p.52) does not contain the words referred to in thequestion, and the Government have expressed no view on their appropriateness.

Identity Cards and Passports

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into the safety of iris scan enrolment for identity card applicants.

Des Browne: The Government has not commissioned any research into the safety of equipment used to record iris images. The supplier of the equipment which was used in the UK Passport Service biometric trial was required to certify that it complied with relevant Health and Safety legislation.

Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08;
	(2)  what the total expenditure by his Department on (a) advertising and (b) advertising and publicity was in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 2003–04; and what the estimate of cost of each will be in (A) 2004–05, (B) 2005–06, (C) 2006–07 and (D) 2007–08.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I have therefore asked my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) to reply. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

Army Recruitment

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monthly recruitment figures for the regular Army were during 2004.

Ivor Caplin: Figures for "intake from civilian life" are published monthly in Tri-Service Publication 1 (TSP1), a copy of which is in the Library of the House. TSP1 provides updated annual figures on a monthly basis. The following table gives individual monthly intakes for the 12 months up to 1 December 2004. This is the latest data available.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 December 2003 500 
			 January 2004 2,100 
			 February 2004 1,130 
			 March 2004 1,030 
			 April 2004 800 
			 May 2004 960 
			 June 2004 620 
			 July 2004 580 
			 August 2004 990 
			 September 2004 2,050 
			 October 2004 740 
			 November 2004 1,080 
		
	
	Figures show all Officer and Soldier intake to the United Kingdom Regular Forces including re-enlistments and rejoined reservists.
	All data have been rounded to the nearest 10. Numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, dated 7 December 2004 with regard to (a) Mr. M. Thompson and (b) Mr. J. Laycock;
	(2)  when he intends to answer the letter dated 7 December 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. J. Laycock;
	(3)  when he will reply to the letter dated 7 December from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. M Thompson;
	(4)  when he will reply to the letter dated 7 December from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. J Laycock.

Geoff Hoon: I sent replies to my right hon. Friend on 27 January 2005.

Departmental Staff

David Laws: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people were employed by (a) his Department and (b) the Court Service in each year from 1998–99 to 2003–04; what his estimate is of the number who will be employed by each in each year from 2004–05 to 2007–08; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Data on staffing levels in the civil service are now collected from Departments and agencies annually, in April each year. Headline figures are published under National Statistics guidelines via a press notice. Previously, data were collected twice yearly, in April and October and those for October 2003 were published on 22 April 2004. Data relating to 1 April 2004 were published on 21 October 2004.
	A copy of the press notice, accompanying media brief and supporting tables is available at www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics. Copies of these documents have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	More detailed information on the civil service is published annually in "Civil Service Statistics", copies of which are laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The latest edition, based on April 2003 data, was published on 6 August 2004.
	
		
			 Estimates (FTE) Department Court Service(5) 
		
		
			 2004–05 2,250 10,910 
			 2005–06(5) 2,150 21,810 
			 2006–07 1,950 20,510 
			 2007–08 1,950 20,310 
		
	
	(5) HMCS WEF 1 April 2005

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence.

Alun Michael: The following table shows the expenditure in fiscal years since the Department was formed in 2001, up to 31 October 2004 in the current year. Further analysis of vehicle hire and subsistence (which includes hotel accommodation) would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Travel Vehicle hire Subsistence Total 
		
		
			 2001–02 14.3 8.7 25.7 48.7 
			 2002–03 10.3 1.5 3.9 15.7 
			 2003–04 11.1 0.5 3.8 15.4 
			 2004–05 10.7 0.4 2.4 13.5 
		
	
	Only one occasion of helicopter hire has been traced in 2003–04 at a cost of £1,796. All travel was in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by her Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.

Alun Michael: We are able to provide the total expenditure recorded since the Department was formed in 2001 whereas in the precise form of the question the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The expenditure can be broken into two sub-headings;
	Foreign Travel including flights and internal travel and
	Subsistence including hotel accommodation.
	These figures exclude Agency figures which are shown in a separate table as follows:
	
		
			£000 
			  Foreign Travel Subsistence Total 
		
		
			 2001–02 1,425 363 1,788 
			 2002–03 1,644 797 2,441 
			 2003–04 1,565 659 2,224 
		
	
	All travel was in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.
	The expenditure for related Agencies (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Central Science Laboratory, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Rural Payments Agency, Veterinary Laboratories Agency and Veterinary Medicines Directorate) in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is as follows:
	
		
			  Foreign travel including subsistence (£000) 
		
		
			 2001–02 972 
			 2002–03 1,085 
			 2003–04 1,283

Emissions Trading Scheme

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for greenhouse gas emissions of the absence of an agreed national allocation plan under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 31 January 2005
	The UK National Allocation Plan (NAP) was submitted to the Commission in April 2004 and was approved on 7 July. The NAP clearly stated that the figure for the total number of allowances to be allocated was provisional pending finalisation of the emissions projections, the review of Climate Change Agreement targets, and the receipt of verified data from installations.
	Although we are still awaiting a formal response from the Commission on the proposed amendments to the NAP (submitted 10 November 2004), the EU Emissions Trading Scheme has commenced operation. Under the terms of their greenhouse gas emissions permits which were issued during the course of last year, operators began monitoring their carbon dioxide emissions on 1 January this year. There has been an active market in contracts for future delivery of emissions allowances for some time. UK operators will be able to trade on the "spot" market once allowances have been issued, which is anticipated to be at the end of March. We plan to announce the installation allocations in early February which will provide UK operators with greater certainty about their allocation. The delay in trading will not affect the fact that operators covered by the Scheme will be required to surrender allowances in line with their carbon dioxide emissions for 2005, as the first year of Phase 1 of the Scheme.
	Other member states have also found the implementation of the scheme challenging. Denmark is the only country which is currently in a position to spot trade, and a number of other member states expect to be in a position to spot trade by the end of February. Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland and Greece are yet to receive approval of their NAP from the European Commission.

GM Crops

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what response she has made to the recent Royal Society report on GM crops based on the management of GM herbicide tolerant sugar beet.

Elliot Morley: A paper reporting the results of studies carried out by scientists at Rothamsted Research Broom's Barn entitled "Management of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant sugar beet for spring and autumn environmental benefit" was published on 19 January 2005 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society.
	We have referred this research paper to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and have asked them in particular to consider the implications, if any, for their advice issued on 13 January 2004 on the implications of the farm scale evaluations of herbicide tolerant GM crops.
	Currently GM sugar beet is not authorised for cultivation in the European Union.

Secondment

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the people working within her Department on secondment from the private sector, broken down by (a) the organisation or industry they came from and (b) the policy responsibilities they have been given.

Alun Michael: The following annex details the secondees from the private sector currently working in this Department, the organisation they came from and the policy responsibilities they have been given.
	The term "secondee" refers to a person "borrowed" from an organisation outside the civil service for a period of between three months and three years (exceptionally five years), without affecting employment status. During the secondment period the secondee remains an employee of the parent organisation but is expected to abide by the Defra Staff Handbook and the Official Secrets Act. Secondees are expected to undertake the full range of duties attached to the post. At the end of the secondment the secondee normally returns to the parent organisation.
	
		
			 Name Parent organisation Defra unit/division Policy responsibilities 
		
		
			 Sarah Perry FUTERRA Sustainability Communications Ltd. Sustainable Development Building Sustainable Development Capacity 
			 Fay Blair Global to Local Sustainable Development None 
			 Sue Nowak Water UK Better Regulation Implementing the 54 recommendations from Defra's Regulation Task Force report 
			 Richard Chalk Royal Bank Of Scotland Group Improvement and Delivery Group—Corporate Development Team None 
			 Nick Starkey National Farmers Union OFIC Crops for Industry Development of sustainable non food uses of crops other than energy 
			 Alison Pridmore Capita Symonds Sustainable Development None 
			 Bill Senior BP GAS Climate Change activity 
			 John Enright London Remade WS Waste Implementation Programme None 
			 Steven Marshall Scottish Power Sustainable Energy—SEP3 International Energy Efficiency Innovation Review and REEEP Initiative 
			 Paul Turner Northumbrian Water Water Supply and Regulation None 
			 Kate Hampton Climate Change Capital Global Atmosphere Future International action to prevent climate change 
			 Phil Cutts SERCO Group plc Rural Development Service None 
			 Nader Bahri Powergen Sustainable Energy Combined Heat and Power

Shooting

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the groups (a) supportive of shooting, (b) critical of shooting and (c) neutral on shooting interviewed by her Department's consultants working on the review of game laws and licences.

Alun Michael: A consultant has been engaged by Defra to undertake a preliminary review of the game licensing system with the specific aim of gathering information to help inform any public consultation. To date, the groups that have been contacted include:
	Animal Aid
	Association of Local Government
	British Association for Shooting and Conservation
	British Retail Consortium
	Country Land and Business Association
	Countryside Agency
	The Deer Initiative
	English Nature
	Federation of Small Businesses
	Food Standards Agency
	Forestry Commission
	Game Conservancy Trust
	Joint Nature Conservancy Council
	Marks and Spencer
	National Farmers Union
	National Game Dealers Association
	National Trust
	Police
	Post Office
	Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
	Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
	Trading Standards Institute
	Two consultants who undertake work for a number of different game organisations were also interviewed. The key organisations whose views they put forward were:
	British Shooting Sports Council
	National Gamekeepers Organisation
	Game Farmers Association
	The groups were not asked whether they would characterise themselves crudely as "for" or "against" shooting. Our purpose in consulting them is to ensure that a range of expertise, experience and views are taken into account as we consider how to review and update the game licensing provisions.
	There will be a public consultation on proposed changes to the system later this year.

Staff Vacancies

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on advertising staff vacancies in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Alun Michael: During the period in question, the Department had no central record of recruitment advertising so the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Defra is centralising it's Human Resources Services function and introducing a new integrated IT system. This will enable the Department to provide aggregated information in future years.

UN Resolutions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether the UK (a) independently and (b) as part of the EU (i) proposed and (ii) co-sponsored UN resolutions (A) A/RES/52/702, (B) A/RES/53/189 A and B, (C) A/RES/54/224, (D) A/RES/55/202, (E) A/RES/56/198, (F) A/RES/57/262, (G) A/RES/58/213 A and B, (H) A/RES/52/201, (I) A/RES/53/190, (J) A/RES/54/221, (K) A/RES/55/201, (L) A/RES/56/197, (M) A/RES/57/260, (N) A/RES/58/212, (O) A/RES/52/199, (P) A/RES/52/198, (Q) A/RES/53/191, (R) A/RES/54/223, (S) A/RES/55/204, (T) A/RES/56/196, (U) A/RES/57/259, (V) A/RES/58/242, (w) A/RES/58/211, (X) A/RES/52/29, (Y) A/RES/53/33, (Z) A/RES/55/8 and (AA) A/RES/57/142 for the consideration of the UN General Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the UK's involvement with each of these resolutions;
	(2)  whether the UK (a) independently and (b) as party of the EU (i) proposed and (ii) co-sponsored UN resolutions (A) A/RES/56/200, (B) A/RES/58/210, (C) A/RES/57/258, (D) A/RES/57/254, (E) A/RES/58/219, (F) A/RES/58/217 and (G) A/RES/58/216 for the consideration of the UN General Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the UK's involvement with each resolution;
	(3)  whether the UK (a) independently and (b) as part of the EU (i) proposed and (ii) co-sponsored UN resolutions (A) A/RES/54/217, (B) A/RES/54/216, (C) A/RES/55/200, (D) A/RES/56/193, (E) A/RES/57/251, (F) A/RES/58/209, (G) A/RES/54/214, (H) A/RES/55/196, (I) A/RES/56/192, (J) A/RES/57/252, (K) A/RES/56/226, (L) A/RES/57/253 and (M) A/RES/58/218 for the consideration of the UN General Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the UK's involvement with each of these resolutions;
	(4)  whether the UK (a) independently and (b) as part of the EU (i) proposed and (ii) co-sponsored UN resolutions (A) A/RES/52/28, (B) A/RES/57/143, (C) A/RES/59/25, (D) A/RES/53/77C, (E) A/RES/54/54C, (F) A/RES/53/7, (G) A/RES/54/215, (H) A/RES/55/205, (I) A/RES/54/225, (J) A/RES/55/203, (K) A/RES/57/261, (L) A/RES/54/222, (M) A/RES/56/119, (N) A/RES/57/257 and (O) A/RES/58/243 for the consideration of the UN General Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the UK's involvement with each of these resolutions.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	These UN resolutions relate to a variety of sustainable development and environmental issues considered by the UN General Assembly over the course of the last eight years. The majority are Second Committee resolutions (relating to economic and sustainable development matters), which are traditionally proposed by the Group of 77 countries. With the exception of resolution A/RES/55/8—on which a vote was called (the UK/EU voted in favour)—all of the resolutions were adopted by consensus. So the UK supported the adoption of all of the resolutions referred to in the list.
	Co-sponsorship usually reflects a degree of approval beyond mere acceptance of a consensus (the EU often, but not always, coordinates on which resolutions merit co-sponsorship by member states, even though co-sponsorship is recorded individually). We do not hold centrally information on those resolutions the UK/EU has co-sponsored or proposed. However, co-sponsorship details can be accessed publicly through the UN documentation centre at www.un.org.documents. Details of the individual countries or groups that proposed, or "introduced", a resolution can also be obtained from this source.

Driving Tests

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals (a) failed and (b) passed all parts of the driving test in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is unable to supply details of the number of individual candidates to have taken both parts of the driving test during the specified period. Many candidates will have taken either, or both, of the tests on more than one occasion. The following is a summary of the number of test passes and failures in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Theory pass Theory fail Practical pass Practical fail 
		
		
			 1999–2000 621,267 391,221 495,515 634,390 
			 2000–01 625,827 363,572 496,460 633,375 
			 2001–02 682,781 376,864 525,433 685,699 
			 2002–03 786,171 489,875 581,592 765,024 
			 2003–04 744,607 552,997 598,347 801,038

Footpaths (Devon)

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy not to renew the prohibition on pedestrian traffic on Footpath No. 10, Dartmouth to Castle Cove; and if he will instruct Devon county council to carry out the necessary works to make the footpath safe.

Charlotte Atkins: Although Footpath No 10 has been closed for public safety reasons since June 2003, the Secretary of State will not make it his policy not to renew the temporary closure order originally made by Devon county council. If a further renewal request is made, he has a duty to consider it on its merits at the time and will take into account any current and relevant information about the circumstances of the request.
	The Secretary of State has no powers issue instructions to Devon CC to carry out the necessary works to make the footpath safe.

Mobile Phones

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has commissioned into the suitability of the level of the fine awarded for use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving.

David Jamieson: When the Department consulted on a proposal to introduce new regulations to prohibit the use of a hand-held phone while driving, comments were also invited on the penalty. The majority of responses considered that the offence should be made endorsable. This involves amending the road traffic acts, a proposal in the Road Safety Bill currently before Parliament, making hand-held mobile phone use subject to endorsement of three penalty points, which will automatically raise the fixed penalty fine to £60.
	Meantime, using a hand-held mobile phone currently attracts a £30 fixed penalty or a maximum fine of £1,000 (£2,500 for the driver of a goods vehicle, bus or coach), like most other Construction and Use offences.
	The Department's consultation document and decision letter of 24 June 2003 were placed in the Library. They are also available on-line at www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft index.hcst?n=10199&l=2.

Parking Spaces

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many car parking spaces are provided for (a) those working in and (b) visiting his Department.

Charlotte Atkins: Approximately 10,150 spaces are available across the DfT estate of 1680 properties across the country. A number of which are located remotely from centres of public transport. Also a number of these locations have transport functions that require car parking spaces e.g. Driving Standards Agency, Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

Rail Freight

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 958W, on railways, what assessment he has made of the priorities for the expansion of rail freight in the next five years (a) in the UK and (b) in the South East; what account will be taken when decisions are made on supporting such expansion of (i) corridors of need for rail freight services, with particular reference to ports and (ii) the need for transportation of particular products, with particular reference to (A) oil and (B) waste; and when he expects to make an announcement regarding his policy on rail freight.

Tony McNulty: Rail freight is a private sector industry and the expansion of the industry should be carried forward through the actions of rail freight operators and their customers. However, the Government have clearly set out its support for encouraging growth in rail freight through measures in the White Paper "The Future of Rail".
	The Strategic Rail Authority have made ongoing assessments of the demand for freight on the railways, and these market studies were referred to in the answer of 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 958W.
	Much of the analysis in these studies is route specific, and therefore allow any regional impacts to be identified.
	With particular reference to ports, the studies imply that the demand for the movement of goods through deep sea ports is likely to increase. The SRA's analysis has informed the work carried out on the network, evidenced by the recent completion of the Felixstowe to Nuneaton gauge enhancement project.
	The information is also used in planning network use through the Route Utilisation Strategy and Regional Planning Assessment processes, ensuring that provision is made for the needs of the freight industry.
	These needs are assessed on a commodity-by-commodity basis, and any need in the network capacity to meet growth in oil and waste movement has been taken into account.

Rail Freight

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's policy is on large-scale railfreight interchanges.

Tony McNulty: In March 2004 the Strategic Rail Authority published the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange Policy. The document is on the internet at the following address: http://www.sra.gov.uk/publications/strategy/freightinterchange/interchangej policy and will be made available in the Library of the House.

Rail Services

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that expansion of powers to passenger transport executives does not have an adverse impact on train services in surrounding shire county areas.

Tony McNulty: The "Future of Rail" White Paper and the Railways Bill will give the Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) greater flexibility to make trade-offs between heavy rail and other modes. Our aim is that the choices that the PTEs make under the new framework should not have an adverse impact on the train services in surrounding local authority areas.
	Although the PTEs will be able to propose reductions to rail services in their areas and retain the savings, this will only apply to any services wholly within their Metropolitan areas and those outside which are wholly funded by the PTE. Similarly, although PTEs will be able to fund additional services themselves, they will only be able to introduce them where they do not significantly adversely impact on the wider objectives for the rail network in that area.
	Following enactment of the Railways Bill, PTEs will be able to propose closures of rail services, networks and stations. However, they will only be able to propose closures that fall wholly within their Metropolitan boundary or that they wholly fund themselves.

Transport for London

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and Transport for London on the definition of rail services in London.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 1 February 2005
	There is no Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and Transport for London on the definition of rail services in London.
	The Railways Bill which is currently under consideration by Parliament, defines a "London railway passenger service" as
	(a) "a service for the carriage of passengers by railway between places in Greater London; or
	(b) a service for the carriage of passengers by railway between places in Greater London and places outside Greater London."
	In addition, for the purposes of network modification procedures, the Railways Bill defines "excluded London service" as a service that is
	(a) "provided by Transport for London or a subsidiary of Transport for London; or
	(b) is designated as a London service for the purposes of this section (25) by an order made by the Secretary of State, or is of a description of services so designated".
	The exact role of the Mayor in respect of some or all London railway passenger services has yet to be finalised. Last year's Railways White Paper (The Future of Rail, 15 July 2004, Cm 6233) identified a number of areas where a greater role for the Mayor would be considered. Once that work is complete it is intended to publish a Memorandum of Understanding setting out the Mayor's role. The Future of Rail White Paper also made it clear that there would be full consultation in respect of any Mayoral role beyond the GLA boundary.

Advance Level Qualifications (Examinations)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) research she has commissioned and (b) discussions she has had on devising examinations which can identify performance over the full range of grades envisaged for advance level qualifications in the "Tomlinson Report"; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: We will be publishing a White Paper, containing our response to the "Final Report" of the Working Group on 14–19 Reform, led by the former Chief Inspector of Schools, Sir Mike Tomlinson, in the near future.
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for developing qualifications and advising Ministers on the mechanisms for grading.

Learning and Skills Council

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will ensure that letters from the Learning and Skills Council responding to parliamentary questions, which neither contain confidential information nor are excessive in length, are printed in the Official Report; and if she will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: I can confirm that under guidance issued by the Leader of the House concerning "I will write" replies, when the substantive response has been issued, a copy is sent to Hansard for printing in the Official Report in the same way as for other written answers.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if she will list the speeches her special advisers made in an official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004, broken down by date;
	(2)  if she will list the occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 when special advisers attended meetings with external representatives at which Ministers were not present.

Derek Twigg: No speeches were made by the Department's special advisers during this time. Information on meetings during this time period is not held.
	All meetings held by special advisers and all speeches given by Special advisers are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

International Financial Institutions

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on how International Financial Institutions (IFIs) should conduct consultations; what his policy is on which aspects of the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) EU codes on conducting consultations should apply to consultations run by IFIs; and if he will make it Government policy to object to consultations run by IFIs if they do not meet these terms.

Hilary Benn: Both DFID and the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) recognise the benefits of consultation. It can improve the design of projects and policies, and increase developing countries' ownership of their own development.
	The IFIs have a diverse range of consultation guidelines for different types of policies and projects; DFID believes that this is appropriate. The EU guidelines on consultation also specifically state that
	"the method and extent of the consultation performed must always be proportionate to the impact of the proposal subject to consultation."
	DFID does not believe it is appropriate to impose domestic guidelines on a multilateral organisation. Instead, we work with multilateral to encourage them to make their consultations more transparent and comprehensive. In particular, we encourage IFIs to consult widely with affected parties, allowing an appropriate amount of time both for consultation and feedback. DFID also stresses the importance of ensuring that the consultation is tailored to local needs. In the ongoing negotiations of the 14th replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), the arm of the World Bank which lends to the worlds poorest countries, the UK has been pushing for strengthened documentation of stakeholder feedback from consultations required under the World Bank's safeguard policies.
	DFID believes that this approach works. For example, we successfully encouraged the Asian Development Bank to carry out extensive internal and external consultations on its Inspection Function. Consultation documents were posted on the Bank's website for comment; public consultation meetings were held with a wide range of people, including those affected by the project; and consultation workshops were held in 10 of the Bank's member countries. The Bank recognised how valuable this consultation process was, and later held extensive consultations on its public information and disclosure policies.

Road Safety

Lewis Moonie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what action his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take in response to UN General Assembly Resolution A/58/L60 on Improving Global Road Safety; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what action his Department has taken in response to the World Health Organisation and World Bank report on road traffic injury prevention, published in April 2004; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what funding was provided in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms for (i) transport-related projects, (ii) road transport-related projects and (iii) road safety-related projects in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The joint World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Bank World report on road traffic injury prevention brings much needed attention to the global impact of road accidents on low and middle income countries. DFID welcomes the UN resolution on Improving Road Safety noting the recommendations of the World Report and inviting the WHO to act as co-ordinator on road safety issues.
	The Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) was established to increase awareness of road safety and promote sustainable reductions in death and injury on roads in developing and transition countries. DFID has supported the GRSP since it was founded in 1999. Our support in recent years has reduced as this partnership between businesses, civil society and Governments has become established drawing in contributions from a growing membership and our support is set to end in March this year. Since 1997, DFID has also supported a number of research projects under the theme "improve transport safety and reduce the impact of accidents particularly for poor people in rural and urban areas".
	DFID is currently leading on setting up a new Transport Knowledge Partnership (TKP), which will serve as a means of disseminating knowledge on transport in the developing countries. The TKP will be launched later this month in Manila and is intended to become a common platform for development agencies and governments to share transport related knowledge and lessons, including road safety activities such as GRSP.
	DFID has maintained constant support to the transport sectors of developing countries. The funding we have provided has been in the region of £50 million to £60 million year on year since 1997. However as the total bilateral spend has doubled from 1997 to the present, the percentage allocated has fallen from 5.7 per cent. in 1997–98 to 2.1 per cent. in 2003–04. In addition to this project expenditure, DFID contributions to the multilateral donor organisations support the transport sector.
	Road transport forms approximately 40 per cent. of the transport portfolio. The following table gives expenditure for road-transport related projects for each year since 1997. The table also shows expenditure on road safety related projects.
	
		DFID bilateral expenditure -- £
		
			  Road-transport related projects Road-safety related projects 
		
		
			 1997–98 15,853,031 432,844 
			 1998–99 26,798,141 161,312 
			 1999–2000 18,289,936 265,407 
			 2000–01 18,401,680 369,485 
			 2001–02 22,331,636 292,057 
			 2002–03 20,804,834 244,870 
			 2003–04 19,902,211 331,592 
		
	
	Source:
	DFID Statistical Reporting and Support Group
	This work has involved research, road-safety education in schools and communities, engineering safety measures, and support to the Global Road Safety Partnership. Increasingly we are placing attention on working alongside others to promote road safety policies and practices, such as through the establishment of TKP and regionally through programmes such as the Sub-Sahara Africa Transport Policy Programme, which includes a road safety component. By raising awareness of road safety issues, some developing and transition countries are beginning to put more emphasis on funding road safety through their own budget allocations.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 when special advisers attended meetings with external representatives at which Ministers were not present.

Hilary Benn: DFID's special advisers attend a number of meetings with external representatives. DFID does not hold a full record of special advisers' meetings. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the speeches his special advisers made in an official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004, broken down by date.

Hilary Benn: DFID's special advisers did not made any speeches in an official capacity in the period in question, as in accordance with the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".

International Finance Facility

Mike Gapes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in representations to the IMF and World Bank on the international finance facility.

Stephen Timms: Good progress has been made in promoting the International Finance Facility (IFF) with other governments, international institutions, the business community, NGOs and faith groups. It now has the support of all the European members of the G7—the UK, France, Italy and Germany—as well as Sweden, which recently announced its support, and almost 50 emerging market and developing countries. In their recent reports on the IFF, the World Bank and the IMF have stated that the IFF is "technically feasible" and "the most advanced proposal to frontload aid".

Government Staffing Levels

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of public spending increases on levels of central Government staffing.

Paul Boateng: Government are committed to increased investment in health, education and criminal justice services, allowing for up to 250,000 new staff by 2008 to help deliver these key front line services. At the same time, the Government remains committed to achieving over £20 billion of efficiency savings, as identified by the Gershon Review. In all, this will lead to a gross reduction of 84,000 civil service administrative and support posts across UK Government Departments.

Correspondence

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to answer the letter of the hon. Member for Birkenhead, dated 17 January, regarding the tax credits of his constituents, Mr and Mrs Newnes.

Dawn Primarolo: I understand that the Inland Revenue will be writing to the hon. Member shortly. They aim to reply to 80 per cent. of correspondence within 15 working days, and 95 per cent. within 40 working days.
	The Revenue have not been able to deal with all customers' queries about their tax credit overpayments as quickly as they would have liked. Each case has to be reviewed on Its own merits and this inevitably takes some time. However, the Department have recently increased the staff deployed on this work and streamlined their procedures.

Consultants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total expenditure by her Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08.

Richard Caborn: The total cost to the Department of using external consultants in 1996–97 was £418,155.95 and in 2003–04 £473,785.35. The spend to date figure for 2004–05 is £492,161.42. No estimate of cost of employing external consultants in 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08 has been made.

Departmental Policies

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Edinburgh North and Leith constituency, the effects on Edinburgh North and Leith of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: Most of the matters for which the Department is responsible in England have been devolved in Scotland to the Scottish Executive. However, there are some reserved areas in which the Government have introduced initiatives which affect Edinburgh North and Leith.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licenses for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Edinburgh North and Leith with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was £2,810.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing Department for Culture, Media and Sport gambling premises to Licensing Boards. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and Licensing Boards will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Edinburgh North and Leith, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	No statistics are available for international visits or expenditure by constituency. However, VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination benefit all parts of the country, including Edinburgh North and Leith.
	Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Edinburgh North and Leith has benefited from over 720 awards totalling over £38.5 million. Of these, 46 awards worth over £4.3 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Departmental Policies

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Kingston upon Hull, North constituency, the effects on Kingston upon Hull, North of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Kingston upon Hull, North since 2 May 1997.
	In order to achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. A school sport partnership involving eight School Sport Co-ordinators and 47 Primary Link teachers is based at St. Mary's College in Kingston upon Hull, North, which received a Sport England Lottery grant of over £390,000 towards its costs. St. Mary's College has also benefited from a Sport England grant of almost £2.5 million to improve its sports facilities, and over 40 sports projects in Kingston upon Hull, North have benefited from Awards for All grants worth over £140,000.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Funding to Arts Council England, Yorkshire and the Humber has increased by 85 per cent. since 1997–98. Kingston upon Hull North has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals in Kingston upon Hull, including regular funding for the Hull Truck Theatre and Hull Time Based Arts.
	Schools in Kingston upon Hull, North were included in the first phase of the Creative, Partnerships programme which began in 2002. Creative Partnerships aims to give school children and their teachers the opportunity to explore their creativity by working on sustained projects with creative organisations and individuals, including artists, theatre companies, dance studios, museums, orchestras, film-makers and historic buildings. Funding of £65 million was allocated for the period 2002–05 to develop Creative Partnerships, and the programme will receive at least a further £86 million in 2005–08.
	Schools in Kingston upon Hull, North also benefit from the Humber Youth Music Action Zone, know as Music4U, which is run by a consortium of local authorities, including Kingston upon Hull City Council, and the National Centre for Early Music. Music4U was set up in September 2001 and has so far been awarded three grants totalling over £760,000. It has already reached over 15,000 children and young people, 85 per cent. of whom were first-time participants.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Kingston upon Hull North will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Kingston upon Hull, North also benefits from museums initiatives in Kingston upon Hull. Kingston upon Hull Museums is a partner in the Yorkshire and Humber Hub, which will receive £3.36 million in the period 2003–06. Wilberforce House in Kingston upon Hull is benefiting from funding as part of the Renaissance in the Regions initiative to establish it as a centre for study, teaching and collections access as part of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in 2007. Kingston upon Hull Museums' collections relating to local history have been designated as part of our Designation Scheme to recognise outstanding collections in non-national museums. Since 2000 they have received grants totalling over £220,000 from the Designation Challenge Fund.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licenses for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Kingston upon Hull, North with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 3,815.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11pm on new year's eve to 11am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Kingston upon Hull, North, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Kingston upon Hull has increased with the assistance of Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including Yorkshire Forward. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Kingston upon Hull, North. Although no assessment is made of the precise effect of this support for tourism in Kingston upon Hull, North, we estimate that total expenditure from overnight stays in the Yorkshire and Humber region by overseas and domestic visitors rose from £1.95 billion in 2000 to almost £2.25 billion in 2003.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth almost £940,000 to Kingston upon Hull since 2 May 1997, including a grant of £20,000 to St. Alban, Hall Road in Kingston upon Hull, North.
	Information from the National Lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Kingston upon Hull, North has benefited from over 200 awards totalling over £10.5 million. Of these, 46 awards worth over £3.8 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.
	In addition, Kingston upon Hull and four other Yorkshire cities have been jointly awarded £1.75 million in Lottery funding from the Urban Cultural Programme, which was established by the Millennium Commission and Arts Council England to build on the success of the Government's competition to select the UK's nomination for European Capital of Culture 2008.

Freedom of Information

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what categories of information are available under Freedom of Information legislation that have not been provided in written parliamentary answers by her Department in the last three years.

Richard Caborn: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 140W, by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. Leslie).

Tourism

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the balance of payments in the tourism sector was in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

Richard Caborn: The balance of payments in tourism for the UK in each of the last two years for which figures are available is shown in the table.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Tourism balance of payments 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Expenditure by overseas residents in the UK 11,737 11,855 
			 Expenditure by UK residents overseas 26,962 28,550 
			 Balance of payments -15,225 -16,695 
		
	
	Source:
	International Passenger Survey
	Provisional figures for 2004 will be published on the 9 February on the National Statistics website: http://www.statistics.gov.uk

Autism

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what resources have been provided for the treatment of autistic spectrum disorders in the Western Health Board area.

Angela Smith: The Department's "Priorities for Action 2004/05" requires boards and trusts to enhance diagnostic, assessment and early intervention services for children with autism. An additional £500,000 has been allocated to boards for this purpose, of which the Western Health and Social Services Board received £85,000.

Consultant Vacancies

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many consultant vacancies there are in each health trust in the Province, broken down by specialty; and for how long each post has been vacant.

Angela Smith: Information requested is as follows.
	
		Number of consultant vacancies by Health Trust as atJanuary 2005
		
			 Trust Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 11 11.00 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 7 7.00 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 8 8.00 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 13 11.64 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 10 10.00 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 2 1.30 
			 Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust 3 3.00 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 2 2.00 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 9 8.50 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 2 2.00 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 15 12.94 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 3 3.00 
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 12 12.00 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 14 14.00 
			 Total 111 106.38 
		
	
	Source:
	NI Health Trusts
	
		Number of consultant vacancies by speciality as at January 2005
		
			 Consultant specialism Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Addictions/substance abuse 1 1.00 
			 Anaesthetics 18 18.00 
			 Cardiac anaesthetics 1 1.00 
			 Intensive care anaesthetics 1 1.00 
			 Paediatric anaesthetics 2 2.00 
			 Cardiology 3 3.00 
			 Cardiothoracic surgery 1 1.00 
			 Care of the elderly 1 1.00 
			 Care of the elderly (stroke care) 1 1.00 
			 Clinical oncology 2 2.00 
			 Ear, nose and throat 3 3.00 
			 Emergency medicine (accident and emergency) 2 2.00 
			 Endocrinology 1 1.00 
			 Fractures 1 0.55 
			 General internal medicine/care of the elderly 1 1.00 
			 General internal medicine and subspecialty 2 2.00 
			 General medicine 2 2.00 
			 General surgery 8 8.00 
			 Breast surgery 1 1.00 
			 Surgery-plastic and burns 1 1.00 
			 Haematology 4 4.00 
			 Histo cyto pathology 4 3.50 
			 Histopathology 1 1.00 
			 Immunology 1 1.00 
			 Microbiology 1 1.00 
			 Nephrology 1 1.00 
			 Obstetrics and gynaecology 3 2.14 
			 Obstetrics and gynaecology-HRT 1 0.27 
			 Opthalmics 1 1.00 
			 Paediatrics 1 1.00 
			 Physician 3 2.18 
			 Physician in diabetics 1 1.00 
			 Psychiatry 3 4.30 
			 Psychiatry-adult 3 1.00 
			 Psychiatry-child and adolescent 4 4.00 
			 Forensic psychiatry 2 2.00 
			 Radiology 16 15.44 
			 Radiology-breast screening 2 2.00 
			 Renal 2 2.00 
			 Restorative dentistry 1 1.00 
			 Urology 3 3.00 
			 Total 111 106.38 
		
	
	Source:
	NI Health Trusts
	
		Length of time each consultant post has been vacant as at January 2005
		
			 Trust/consultant: Length of time post vacant 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust:  
			 General medicine Post vacant for 4 months 
			 General surgery Post vacant for 11 months 
			 Ear, nose and throat Post vacant for 22 months 
			 2XAnaesthetics Post vacant for 15 months 
			 Radiology Post vacant for 19 months 
			 Radiology Post vacant for 2 years 
			 Microbiology Post vacant for 3 years 
			 Oncology Post vacant over 3 years 
			 Haematology Post vacant for 19 months 
			 Haematology Post vacant for 20 months 
			   
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust:  
			 Nil Nil 
			   
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust:  
			 Haematology Post vacant for 4 months 
			 Clinical oncology New post 
			 Radiology New post 
			 2XGeneral surgery New posts 
			 2XUrology New posts 
			 General surgery Post vacant for 4 months 
			 General surgery Post vacant for 5 years 
			 Emergency medicine Post vacant for 1 year 
			 Urology Post vacant for 5 months 
			 Anaesthetics Post vacant for 1 month 
			 Radiology Post vacant for 1 month 
			 Psychiatry—adult Post vacant for 6 months 
			 Psychiatry—old age Post vacant for 6 months 
			   
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust:  
			 Nil Nil 
			   
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust:  
			 Anaesthetics Post vacant for 11 months 
			 Anaesthetics New post pending appointment of a consultant breast surgeon 
			 Haematology Post vacant for 20 months 
			 Histo/Cyto pathology New post 
			 Histo/Cyto pathology Post vacant for 15 months 
			 Histo/Cyto pathology Post vacant for 17 months 
			 Histo/Cyto pathology Post vacant for 19 months 
			 Cardiology Post vacant for 1 year 
			 Obstetrics/gynaecology Post vacant for 16 months 
			 3XRadiology New posts 
			 Breast surgery New post 
			   
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust:  
			 2XPsychiatry-child and adolescent Posts vacant over 2 years 
			 General internal medicine and care of the elderly Post vacant over 2 years 
			 General internal medicine and subspecialty Post vacant for 7 months 
			 General internal medicine and subspecialty Post vacant for 1 month 
			 General surgery Post vacant over 1 year 
			 Addictions and substance abuse Post vacant for 9 months 
			 2XAnaesthetics Both posts have been filled by long-term locums, but one became vacant again in December 2004 
			 Endocrinology Appointment has now been made. Due to start in March 2005. 
			   
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust:  
			 Psychiatry Post vacant for 10 months 
			 Psychiatry Post vacant over 2 years 
			   
			 Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust:  
			 Psychiatry—child and adolescent Post vacant for 8 months 
			 2XAnaesthetics Posts vacant for 9 months 
			   
			 Homefirst Coummunity HSS Trust:  
			 Psychiatry—adult Post vacant for 4 months 
			 Psychiatry—adult Post vacant for 20 months 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust:  
			 General surgery Post vacant for 9 months 
			 Obstetrics Post vacant for 1 month 
			 Care of the elderly (interest in stroke care) Post vacant for 1 year 
			 Emergency medicine Post vacant for 1 year 
			 Radiology Post vacant for 1 year 
			 Radiology Post vacant for 2 years 
			 Physician in diabetics Post vacant for 9 months 
			 Cardiology Post vacant for 1 year 
			 Opthalmics New post 
			   
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust:  
			 Paediatrics Post vacant for 10 months 
			 Radiology Post vacant for 20 months 
			   
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust:  
			 Nil Nil 
			   
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust:  
			 Obstetrics/gynaecology Interviews February 2005 
			 Surgery—plastics and burns Appointment has now been made. Due to start in February 2005 
			 Histopathology Interviews February 2005 
			 Restorative dentistry Interviews March 2005 
			 2XPaediatric anaesthetics Long-term vacancies 
			 Cardiothoracic surgery Long-term vacancy 
			 Fractures Long-term vacancy 
			 2Xradiology Long-term vacancies 
			 Anaesthetics Long-term vacancy 
			 Cardiac anaesthetics New post—has not been advertised as yet 
			 Physician Long-term vacancy 
			 Obstetrics/gynaecology (HRT) Long-term vacancy 
			 Immunology Long-term vacancy 
			   
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust:  
			 Psychiatry—adolescent Post vacant for 5 months 
			 2XForensic psychiatry New posts—have not been advertised as yet 
			   
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust:  
			 1XGeneral surgery  
			 3XAnaesthetics1/2  
			 2XRenal 2XENT Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust were unable to provide details on the length of time each post was vacant 
			 3XRadiology1/2  
			 1XGeneral medicine  
			   
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust:  
			 Nil Nil 
			   
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust:  
			 5XAnaesthetics Posts vacant for 8 years 
			 Anaesthetics—intensive care Post vacant for 6 months 
			 Nephrology Post vacant for 2 years 
			 Physician—care of the elderly Post vacant for 2 years 
			 Radiology Post vacant for over 2 years 
			 Radiology—breast screening Post vacant for 3 years 
			 Radiology—breast screening Post vacant for 1 year 
			 Cardiology Post vacant for 6 months 
			 2XPhysician Posts vacant for 2 years

Costello Report

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons pupils in special units were not included in the figures on post-primary enrolments used in the "Costello Report".

Barry Gardiner: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave the to the hon. Member for Strangford on 26 January 2005, Official Report, column 422W.

Counterfeit Medicines

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reports he has received of counterfeit medications being discovered in the Province within the legitimate wholesale medicines supply chain.

Angela Smith: There have been no reports of counterfeit medications being appearing within the legitimate wholesale medicines supply chain in Northern Ireland.

Dismissed Health Staff

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are taken to ensure health service employers are fully informed (a) of potential employees who have been forced to leave other posts within the health sector and (b) of the details of their departure.

Angela Smith: Recruitment and selection procedures are a matter for individual Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) employers and it is the responsibility of the employer to carry out all necessary pre employment checks. In addition, for medical and dental staff a system of alert letters is in place whereby all HPSS employers are notified in cases where a doctor or dentist, who has been dismissed or suspended, poses a potential risk to the safety of patients and it is believed he/she will seek work elsewhere. The Department is currently reviewing the procedures that exist for alert letters with a view to potentially extending the process to cover other health care staff.

Former Loyalist Paramilitaries

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions (a) he and (b) his Ministers have had on the funding of measures dealing with schemes for former loyalist paramilitaries.

Paul Murphy: Recent meetings with representatives of loyalism have focused on a range of issues affecting Protestant communities in general. All discussion has been in the context of ongoing work to address the needs of working class Protestant communities.
	No specific funding proposals have been brought forward.
	Any work on this will be done through properly structured and audited initiatives.
	I and my Ministers do, of course, continue to stress that real progress on these issues can only be made when paramilitary organisations give their unequivocal commitment to bringing an end to paramilitarism and criminality.

Migrant Workers (Translation Services)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide information about emergency services to newly arriving migrant workers in their own language upon arrival.

John Spellar: There is a range of organisations, both statutory and voluntary, within Northern Ireland involved in the provision of support to migrant workers including the provision of information on services. Some provide "welcome packs" in English and a variety of minority languages where there is a demand. The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has provided funding from its minority ethnic voluntary organisation fund for this purpose, for example to the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme.
	Also the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is planning a booklet for migrant workers outlining where and how to seek advice, support and redress against racism and to access public services. This booklet is due to be published in March 2005. It is anticipated that the booklet will be published in a variety of languages.
	However, we recognise that we still have a great deal to do in facing the challenges posed by the arrival of increasing numbers of migrant workers in Northern Ireland. This has been brought into stark relief by the horrific ordeal of the Ukrainian national who had her legs amputated after suffering from frostbite as a result of sleeping rough. Clearly, Government and others need to establish, as a matter of urgency, what lessons we can learn from this horrific experience. To this end a multi-agency review and assessment meeting is being facilitated by the northern health and social services board in the near future.
	I have asked my officials to investigate whether there are gaps in provision of information services and welcome packs, how to plug any gaps and the scope for setting out minimum standards. We recognise, however, the crucial role of the voluntary and community sector in providing information that is tailored to specific communities across Northern Ireland and we would wish this to continue. I also wish to see employers and trade unions working with us on this important area.
	The rapid changes in the composition of the migrant worker population in Northern Ireland and the sheer diversity of source countries for migrant workers means that it is unlikely to be practical to offer every single migrant worker, regardless of the language they speak, a welcome pack in their own mother tongue. However, I would hope that such packs could be made available in those languages that are most frequently used.

Migrant Workers (Translation Services)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many migrant workers were estimated to be in Northern Ireland on 1 January; and how many he estimates had (a) a basic understanding of the English language and (b) access to an interpreter for urgent medical assistance if required.

John Spellar: Research commissioned by the Office of the First Minister and "Deputy First Minister—Migrant Workers in Northern Ireland" (June 2004) indicates that "migrant workers are a growing category of employees in Northern Ireland and they are a necessary factor for many employment sectors due to a shortage of available local labour". I have arranged for copies of the research report to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	This research indicates the difficulty in identifying the total number of migrant workers in Northern Ireland with any degree of accuracy. In particular, nationals from countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and family members of EEA nationals are exempt from immigration control and have a right to enter, reside and work in the UK without the permission of any UK authority. Thus there is no central body that records their migration to Northern Ireland. Migrant workers from outside the EEA are allowed to work here under work permit arrangements which are regulated by the Home Office.
	The 2001 Census indicates that there were 5,940 people in Northern Ireland who were born in EU countries (excluding the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland) and 20,719 people born in non-EU countries. This gives a maximum figure of 26,659 people who could be classified as migrant workers or dependents of migrant workers.
	Home Office records show that 3,253 applications for work permits were approved from employers with a Northern Ireland postcode in 2003 and 3,827 in 2004.
	I have asked my officials to work with their colleagues in other Government Departments including the Home Office, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, trades unions and business interests to see how they can work together in this area, to improve the availability of information on flows of migrant workers into Northern Ireland—to ensure that Government Departments, agencies and others can respond effectively to the needs of migrant workers.
	The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is to be commended for the lead that it is taking in gathering examples of good practice in the employment of migrant workers. Many employers in both the public and the private sector are to be commended, too, for their good practice in working with and supporting employees from overseas. The Equality Commission has held a range of seminars and roundtable discussions to encourage employers and service providers to meet their obligations to migrant workers. Together with Business in the Community it is organising a "Migrant Workers: Building on Best Practice" conference for later in the year. I strongly support this initiative. I would wish to see greater exchange of good practice between employers (including trade unions) and recognition by all employers of their responsibilities—legal and moral—towards their workers and society in Northern Ireland.
	I do not have details of the English language skills of migrant workers. We do know that the language barrier is a problem for many migrant workers, their family members and members of minority ethnic groups who do not speak English as their first language or who speak little English and for the statutory agencies involved in the provision of services. Government are committed to effective communication with all its customers and to ensuring that services are as accessible as possible to all members of the community, including people from minority ethnic groups and migrant workers. DHSSPS does not have information on the number of migrant workers accessing emergency medical services. In emergencies hospitals use interpreting services provided by Language Line and other providers.
	For its part, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) introduced new interpretation procedures in September 2004. Telephone interpreters are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are available from any phone, including mobiles, from any location. This has considerably increased the Police Service's ability to liaise quickly with individuals who cannot understand English. Face-to-face interpreters are also available if required.
	Finally, the PSNI is currently working with its telephone interpretation service provider to investigate ways of handling emergency calls made by people who cannot speak English.

Police Service

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were on duty on average during (a) day and (b) night shifts in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by principal duty of each officer;
	(2)  how many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were on duty on the night of (a) 23 and (b) 24 November.

Ian Pearson: The deployment of resources by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, on any day or night shift, is based upon predictive demand and intelligence. On 23 November 2004, the level of resources deployed in both operational regions of the PSNI (on both early and night shifts) was as follows:
	
		Resources on duty in operational regions 23 November 2004
		
			  Day Night 
		
		
			 Security duty 182 141 
			 Call management 49 45 
			 Station duty officer 63 51 
			 Response policing team 633 449 
			 Community policing team 533 81 
			 Support to response and community policing (including custody officers, national intelligence model officers, operational planning, community safety officers, domestic violence officers, youth diversion officers, crime prevention officers etc.) 617 54 
			 Senior command (chief inspector and above) 95 21 
			 DCU criminal investigation 235 47 
			 Tactical support group 284 105 
			 Roads policing 84 16 
			 Belfast regional control 18 18 
			 Total 2,793 1,028 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. This information relates to resources in both operational regions of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, rural and urban. They provide a snapshot only of resources at 3pm and 3am on early and night shift on 23 November 2004, and should be read in that context. These figures can vary due to shift changeovers and variable shift patterns.
	2. The support provided to response and community policing teams has an important role in frontline service delivery. Community safety teams, domestic violence officers etc. all provide a frontline service, and deal with victims, perpetrators and witnesses on a daily basis.
	3. It is not possible to state how many officers attached to all headquarters departments were on duty on that date as only manual records are held and a manual search would be required that would incur disproportionate cost. This includes murder investigation teams, serious crime teams etc.

School Interface Funding

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which schools in North Belfast have received funding to address interface problems in each year since 2000.

Barry Gardiner: pursuant to the reply, 1 February 2005, Official Report, c.879W
	The schools in North Belfast which have received funding to address interface problems in each year since 2000 are:
	
		
			 Financial year School 
		
		
			 2000–01 None 
			 2001–02 Holy Cross Girls' primary school 
			  Wheatfield primary school 
			   
			 2002–03 Holy Cross Girls' primary school 
			  Wheatfield primary school 
			   
			 (From December 2001) Ballysillan primary school 
			  Cliftonville primary school 
			  Currie primary school 
			  Grove primary school 
			  Holy Cross Boys' primary school 
			  Holy Family primary school 
			  Lowood primary school 
			  Mercy primary school 
			  Our Lady's Deanby Gardens primary school 
			  Sacred Heart primary school 
			  St. Mary's Star of the Sea primary school 
			  St. Patrick's primary school 
			   
			 (From March 2002) Ben Mhadagain Prep 
			  Carr's Glen primary school 
			  Cavehill primary school 
			  Cedar Lodge Special primary school 
			  Edmund Rice (Christian Brothers) primary school 
			  Ligoniel primary school 
			  Our Lady of Lourdes primary school 
			  Seaview primary school 
			  St. Gabriel's college 
			  St. Therese of Lisieux primary school 
			  St. Vincent de Paul primary school 
			  Star of the Sea Girls' primary school 
			   
			 2003–04 Holy Cross Girls' primary school 
			  Wheatfield primary school 
			  Ballysillan primary school 
			  Cliftonville primary school 
			  Currie primary school 
			  Grove primary school 
			  Holy Cross Boys' primary school 
			  Holy Family primary school 
			  Lowood primary school 
			  Mercy primary school 
			  Our Lady's Deanby Gardens primary school 
			  Sacred Heart primary school 
			  St. Mary's Star of the Sea primary school 
			  St. Patrick's primary school 
			  Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain 
			  Carr's Glen primary school 
			  Cavehill primary school 
			  Cedar Lodge special primary school 
			  Edmund Rice (Christian Brothers) primary school 
			  Ligoniel primary school 
			  Our Lady of Lourdes primary school 
			  Seaview primary school 
			  St. Therese of Lisieux primary school 
			  St. Vincent de Paul primary school 
			  Star of the Sea Girls' primary school 
			   
			 2004–05 Holy Cross Girls' primary school 
			  Wheatfield primary school 
			  Currie primary school 
			  Holy Family primary school 
			  Ligoniel primary school 
			  Our Lady of Mercy secondary school

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when his Department will reply to the letter of 21 December 2004 from the hon. Member for Walsall, North transferred from the Department of Trade and Industry, concerning a constituent.

Yvette Cooper: My hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope) replied to my hon. Friend's letter on 2 February 2005.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average band D council tax has been in each Government office region in each year since 1997–98.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is given in Table 2.2f of "Local Government Financial Statistics, England, No. 15 2004", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The table can also be found at http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/lgfs/lgfsl5/tables/lgfsl5–2-2f.xls.

Departmental Contracts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many contracts in his Department have been granted to (a) EDS, (b) Fujitsu and (c) EDS and Fujitsu jointly in each of the last two years; whether they were open to competition; for what they were granted; for how much, and over what period of time; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government offices for the regions has granted two contracts to Fujitsu in the last two years. These were for Managed IT Services to the Government Offices for the Regions, and were annual extensions of an existing contract pending recompetition. The contracts were each worth £1.75 million, and were procured through the Office of Government Commerce GCAT catalogue.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has granted no contract to EDS or jointly EDS and Fujitsu in either of the last two years.

Disabled Facilities Grant

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how much Swale borough council has paid in disabled facilities grant in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how much Swale borough council has allocated to disabled facilities as a percentage of its housing allocation since 1997;
	(3)  how many disabled people in Sittingbourne and Sheppey applied for a disabled facilities grant in each year since 1997; and how many received an award;
	(4)  how much has been allocated to (a) Kent county council and (b) Swale borough council for the disabled facilities grant in each year since 1997;
	(5)  what estimate has been made of the number of disabled people waiting for disabled facilities grant to be paid in Swale.

Keith Hill: The following table shows Swale borough council's expenditure on disabled facilities grant (DFG) as a proportion of their total Housing Investment Programme (HIP) allocation. Column one shows the annual allocation to Swale from the Government's ring-fenced grant to support local authorities' DFG programmes. This grant covers 60 per cent. of each authority's total DFG expenditure. Swale's total DFG expenditure is shown in column two. Column four gives this amount as a proportion of the authority's total HIP allocation shown in column three.
	
		
			 £000 
			  (1) (2) (3) (4) 
			  Government allocation of ring fenced grant for DFG Total DFG expenditure Total housing capital allocation Percentage of total housing allocation spent on DFG 
		
		
			 1997–98 408 617 1,546 40.0 
			 1998–99 203 689 1,552 44.4 
			 1999–2000 223 633 1,499 42.2 
			 2000–01 242 667 1,706 39.1 
			 2001–02 240 644 1,510 42.6 
			 2002–03 276 616 1,514 40.7 
			 2003–04 420 817 1,407 58.1 
			 2004–05 420 n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not collect information on how many disabled people in particular areas within local authorities have applied for DFG, or the number of people waiting for DFG, and could provide it only at disproportionate costs. County councils are not responsible for administering DFG and therefore receive no specific funding for it.

Gypsies/Travellers

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) Gypsy and (b) Traveller families have made illegal encampments in Kent since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Information is not held centrally on the number of families on unauthorised encampments, however the bi-annual count of Gypsy and Traveller caravans does provide information on the number of caravans on such sites. In January 1997 there were 94 caravans on unauthorised encampments in Kent. In July 2004 there were 64 caravans on unauthorised encampments in the county.

Homeless Children

Steve Webb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many children were living in temporary accommodation in (a) the South West region and (b) South Gloucestershire in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Local authorities report their activities under homelessness legislation quarterly, and this includes the number of homeless households in temporary accommodation on the last day of the quarter. Information on the number of these households that contain dependent children and/or an expectant mother has been distinguished since March 2002 and the number of children in these households has been collected since June 2004.
	The following table presents available information for all quarters since March 2002.
	
		Households(7) which contain dependent children and/or an expectant mother, in temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities under homelessness legislation, as at the end of the quarter
		
			  2002 2003 
			  March June September December March June 
		
		
			 South West Region(8)   
			 Households 3,110 3,710 4,030 2,740 3,350 4,250 
			 Number of children n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			 South Gloucestershire DC   
			 Households 214 248 245 281 281 295 
			 Number of children n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  2003 2004 
			  September December March June September 
		
		
			 South West Region(8)  
			 Households 4,100 3,480 3,920 3,950 4,350 
			 Number of children n/a n/a n/a 6,180 7,050 
			   
			 South Gloucestershire DC  
			 Households 301 287 278 288 302 
			 Number of children n/a n/a n/a 476 475 
		
	
	(7) Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting re-allocation of a settled home following Acceptance. Excludes those households designated as "homeless at home" that have remained in their existing accommodation and have the same rights to suitable alternative accommodation as those in accommodation arranged by the authority.
	(8) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and may include estimates for any authority in the South West that failed to provide report data. The series is due to be revised in March 2005.
	Source:
	ODPM P1E homelessness returns (quarterly)

Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans there are for providing new housing with a selling price of £60,000 in the Chorley constituency.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recently announced that we are working on a new First Time Buyers Initiative—of which the "Design for Manufacture" competition is an adjunct—designed to provide those who are unable to purchase a home outright with a "stepping stone" to independent home ownership. English Partnerships will be leading on the delivery of 15,000 homes to 2010. It is not possible, at the present time, to identify precisely where homes constructed under these schemes will be available. However, in addition to sites in English Partnership's portfolio we will be encouraging other landowners, such as local authorities, to use the scheme's model as a way of addressing affordability issues in their areas.

Housing Associations

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list local housing associations that have been given consent to impose a right of first refusal on Right to Buy or voluntary sales under section 197 of the Housing Act 2004.

Keith Hill: Consent does not have to be given to housing associations before they can impose a right of first refusal covenant in respect of Right to Buy or voluntary sales under the Housing Act 2004.
	Under section 188 of the Housing Act 2004, all social landlords (local authorities or housing associations) that sell properties under the Right to Buy scheme are required to include a "right of first refusal" covenant in the conveyance or grant of lease. This covenant requires the owner of an ex-Right to Buy home who wishes to resell it within 10 years of the Right to Buy sale to offer it to the former landlord or to another social landlord, at market value. If the offer is not accepted, the owner is free to sell on the open market. Regulations setting out the procedures to be followed will be laid before Parliament shortly. These regulations will reflect the responses to the Government's consultation paper published in March 2004, and sent to landlords, representative bodies, and tenants' organisations.
	Properties sold by housing associations:
	under the preserved Right to Buy (available to tenants of housing associations who transferred with their homes from local authority landlords under stock transfer arrangements); and
	under the Right to Acquire (available to assured tenants of housing associations in respect of properties built or acquired by their landlords with public funds since 1 April 1997) on voluntary terms at a discount
	are also subject to this "right of first refusal", under section 171C of the Housing Act 1985 (in relation to the preserved Right to Buy), section 17 of the Housing Act 1996 (in relation to the Right to Acquire), and section 200 of the Housing Act 2004 (in relation to voluntary disposals, unless waived with the specific consent of the Housing Corporation).
	Consent is still required for the imposition of a right of first refusal covenant in areas which have been designated as rural by the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister under section 157 of the Housing Act 1985, but this is not a change brought about by the Housing Act 2004.

Housing Associations

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Government's policy on the extension of the right-to-buy to housing associations has changed.

Keith Hill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 1 February 2005, Official Report, columns 814–15W.

Regional Referendums

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) polling, (b) focus group research and (c) other measures of public opinion were undertaken by his Department since June 2003 in relation to (i) the regional referendum in the North East and (ii) preparation for the referendums in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber; and if he will place a copy of the reports in the Library.

Nick Raynsford: The results of the Soundings Exercise were published in June 2003. This considered the level of interest in holding referendums on establishing elected regional assemblies in the English regions. Copies are already available in the Library of the House and on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.
	No polls, focus groups or other measures of public opinion on this subject have been undertaken since then by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Some research was undertaken to measure the effect of the Your Say Information Campaign in increasing awareness of the referendums but this was not a measure of public opinion.

Satellite Dishes

Bill Olner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish his Department's response to the consultation paper, Satellite dishes and other antennas: consultation on possible changes to planning regulations for satellite dishes and other antennas.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has completed its analysis of the response to the consultation paper: "Satellite dishes and other antennas" and expects to make an announcement very shortly.

Social Exclusion Unit

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) staff and (b) running costs of the Social Exclusion Unit was in the last year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: The information is as follows.
	(a) Staff costs for the Social Exclusion Unit for the financial year to 31 March 2004 were £2,342,000.
	(b) The running cost of the Social Exclusion Unit for the same period was £1,212,000.
	The Social Exclusion Unit does not have a separate "programme" budget and therefore the running cost figure includes the production costs of reports published during this period.

Social Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless people there were in each local authority which has effected a large scale voluntary transfer in each of the two years (a) before and (b) after the transfer was effected.

Yvette Cooper: Information collected about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is in respect of households, rather than persons. The number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and the number of households in temporary accommodation arranged under homelessness legislation for those authorities that have effected a large scale voluntary transfer since the first quarter of 2003 is tabled as follows. This also shows the number of persons reported as sleeping rough.
	
		
			  Rushcliffe Bradford 
			  LSVT date 20/01/2003 LSVT date 24/02/2003 
			  Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) 
		
		
			 2002   
			 January to March 33 119 — 229 55 — 
			 April to June 26 122 0 392 56 0 
			 July to September 46 119 — 375 55 — 
			 October to December 41 145 — 312 45 — 
			 2003   
			 January to March 39 167 — 284 40 — 
			 April to June 36 100 0 294 48 0 
			 July to September 42 84 — 277 44 — 
			 October to December 45 75 — 229 53 — 
			 2004   
			 January to March 42 92 — 238 47 — 
			 April to June 51 102 0 233 57 0 
			 July to September 36 94 — 269 65 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Amber Valley Crewe and Nantwich 
			  LSVT date 24/02/2003 LSVT date 10/03/2003 
			  Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) 
		
		
			 2002   
			 January to March 73 28 — 33 11 — 
			 April to June 82 31 0 35 13 0 
			 July to September 67 32 — 59 13 — 
			 October to December 86 30 — 34 7 — 
			 2003   
			 January to March 100 24 — 61 7 — 
			 April to June 90 33 0 98 10 0 
			 July to September 95 31 — 67 5 — 
			 October to December 76 28 — 43 7 — 
			 2004   
			 January to March 92 27 — 49 4 — 
			 April to June 80 33 0 75 11 0 
			 July to September 60 37 — 62 11 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Walsall Craven 
			  LSVT date 27/03/2003 LSVT date 31/03/2003 
			  Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) 
		
		
			 2002   
			 January to March 351 48 — 5 7 — 
			 April to June 23 62 0 8 7 0 
			 July to September 90 41 — (12)— (12)— — 
			 October to December 81 39 — 2 2 — 
			 2003   
			 January to March 96 29 — 3 3 — 
			 April to June 76 40 0 5 5 0 
			 July to September 104 50 — 7 6 — 
			 October to December 102 59 — 16 12 — 
			 2004   
			 January to March 147 62 — 14 11 — 
			 April to June (12)— (12)— 0 8 14 0 
			 July to September 128 58 — 11 12 — 
		
	
	
		
			  North Hertfordshire Forest of Dean 
			  LSVT date 31/03/2003 LSVT date 31/03/2003 
			  Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) 
		
		
			 2002   
			 January to March 45 108 — 39 38 — 
			 April to June 46 110 0 43 40 0 
			 July to September 56 113 — 52 50 — 
			 October to December 64 123 — 53 57 — 
			 2003   
			 January to March 36 126 — 48 59 — 
			 April to June 50 118 0 30 30 0 
			 July to September 43 115 — 37 33 — 
			 October to December 27 105 — 29 33 — 
			 2004   
			 January to March 45 118 — 37 31 — 
			 April to June 37 128 0 19 28 0 
			 July to September 30 121 — 31 34 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Scarborough Maidstone 
			  LSVT date 15/12/2003 LSVT date 01/02/2004 
			  Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) 
		
		
			 2002   
			 January to March 47 40 — 43 393 — 
			 April to June 61 35 0 32 430 0 
			 July to September 63 31 — 43 433 — 
			 October to December 50 33 — 31 440 — 
			 2003   
			 January to March 60 46 — 74 491 — 
			 April to June 60 35 0 72 72 0 
			 July to September 91 80 — 69 69 — 
			 October to December 54 58 — 51 53 — 
			 2004   
			 January to March 99 74 — 36 39 — 
			 April to June 121 58 0 57 57 0 
			 July to September 61 85 — 84 86 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Teignbridge Cherwell 
			  LSVT date 04/02/2004 LSVT date 29/03/2004 
			  Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) 
		
		
			 2002   
			 January to March 70 418 — 50 204 — 
			 April to June 76 401 0 70 219 0 
			 July to September 57 392 — 56 213 — 
			 October to December 60 396 — 56 201 — 
			 2003   
			 January to March 53 316 — 84 223 — 
			 April to June 49 297 0 71 252 0 
			 July to September 62 163 — 79 285 — 
			 October to December 57 253 — (12)— (12)— — 
			 2004   
			 January to March 51 89 — 60 262 — 
			 April to June 59 88 0 70 310 0 
			 July to September 54 103 — 100 329 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Bromsgrove Hartlepool 
			  LSVT date 29/03/2004 LSVT date 29/03/2004 
			  Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) 
		
		
			 2002   
			 January to March 47 56 — 67 9 — 
			 April to June 52 40 0 75 11 0 
			 July to September 59 44 — 56 0 — 
			 October to December 78 55 — 61 6 — 
			 2003   
			 January to March 61 77 — 76 4 — 
			 April to June 55 77 0 78 3 0 
			 July to September 69 93 — 85 2 — 
			 October to December 65 69  62 2  
			 2004   
			 January to March 49 80 — 99 6 — 
			 April to June 52 76 0 90 3 0 
			 July to September 35 73 — 90 4 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Worcester South Norfolk 
			  LSVT date29/03/2004 LSVT date 17/05/2004 
			  Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) 
		
		
			 2002   
			 January to March 66 68 — 37 31 — 
			 April to June 58 67 6 38 42 0 
			 July to September 52 115 — 43 51 — 
			 October to December 36 58 — 39 59 — 
			 2003   
			 January to March 55 71 — 37 65 — 
			 April to June 56 73 0 27 76 0 
			 July to September 59 79 — 28 74 — 
			 October to December 56 85 — 18 59 — 
			 2004   
			 January to March 51 103 — 20 49 — 
			 April to June 42 118 0 16 69 0 
			 July to September 38 110 — 34 72 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Copeland Purbeck 
			  LSVT date 07/06/2004 LSVT date 26/06/2004 
			  Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) 
		
		
			 2002   
			 January to March 21 1 — 21 43 — 
			 April to June 16 1 0 19 13 0 
			 July to September 25 2 — 13 47 — 
			 October to December 7 2 — 16 29 — 
			 2003   
			 January to March 27 3 — 24 32 — 
			 April to June 40 3 0 16 23 0 
			 July to September 46 6 — 24 34 — 
			 October to December 21 3 — 25 38 — 
			 2004   
			 January to March 35 6 — 29 16 — 
			 April to June 23 6 0 15 11 0 
			 July to September 36 10 — 16 26 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Peterborough Forest Health 
			  LSVT date 04/10/2004 LSVT date 11/10/2004 
			  Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) 
		
		
			 2002   
			 January to March 49 148 — 8 12 — 
			 April to June 72 177 3 7 15 0 
			 July to September 86 227 — 14 21 — 
			 October to December 103 242 — 11 19 — 
			 2003   
			 January to March 84 302 — 13 16 — 
			 April to June 112 352 9 9 17 0 
			 July to September 126 335 — 16 16 — 
			 October to December 105 107 — 16 13 — 
			 2004   
			 January to March 126 114 — 16 19 — 
			 April to June 143 79 4 8 13 0 
			 July to September 121 62 — 16 15 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Middlesbrough 
			  LSVT date 15/11/2004 
			  Accepted during quarter(9) In temporary accommodation at end of quarter(10) Rough sleepers(11) 
		
		
			 2002
			 January to March 68 29 — 
			 April to June 80 35 0 
			 July to September 104 32 — 
			 October to December 104 28 — 
			 2003
			 January to March 82 28 — 
			 April to June 100 32 0 
			 July to September 119 22 — 
			 October to December 130 29 — 
			 2004
			 January to March 113 38 — 
			 April to June 124 39 0 
			 July to September 116 33 — 
		
	
	(9) Applicant households found to be eligible, unintentionally homeless and in a priority need group under homelessness legislation.
	(10) Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting re-allocation of a settled home following acceptance. Excludes those households designated as "homeless at home" that have remained in their existing accommodation and have the same rights to suitable alternative accommodation as those in accommodation arranged by the authority.
	(11) Mid-year estimate or recent street count.
	(12) Data not reported by local authority. ODPM calculates estimates for any missing data fields in the compilation of national and regional totals.
	Source:
	ODPM P1E homelessness returns (quarterly) and Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual)
	After being accepted as homeless, a household will be placed in some form of accommodation. They may be placed in temporary accommodation, until a settled solution becomes available, or they may be given a settled solution straight away depending on the accommodation available to the local authority. As an alternative to temporary accommodation an authority may arrange for a household to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
	Some households in temporary accommodation were being accommodated pending completion of inquiries into their application, or awaiting the outcome of an LA review/county court appeal against the authority's decision, or had been found intentionally homeless and subsequently were being accommodated for a reasonable period as permitted under legislation.
	Information is also collected on the number of people who sleep rough—that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night. This is based on a combination of the most recent street counts and estimates made by local authorities.
	Quarterly Statistical Releases on statutory homelessness published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister include information on both Acceptances and households in temporary accommodation at local authority level in an associated Supplementary Table. The latest Release of, 13 December, and previous editions are available both in the Library of the House and via the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. Statistics on Rough Sleepers are also published via the website.

Urban Task Force Report

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which recommendations from Lord Rogers's Urban Task Force report the Government have not yet implemented.

Keith Hill: The Government endorsed the principles behind all of the 105 recommendations in Lord Roger's report the majority of which were accepted in full or in part and incorporated in the Urban White Paper "Our Towns and Cities: the future—Delivering an Urban Renaissance" published in November 2000. Our response to each recommendation is set out in an Annex to the White Paper. Significant progress has been made in implementing all of the measures in the White Paper. An Implementation Plan reporting on progress is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. These achievements are being built on by the Government's Sustainable Communities Plan, launched in February 2003, which sets out a clear action plan for the long-term development of towns, cities and communities.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many hours of staff time were taken up in preparation of Christmas cards in 2004;
	(2)  how many departmental staff have responsibility for preparing Christmas cards;
	(3)  what percentage of official departmental Christmas cards included a contribution to charity in their cost; and which charities benefited from such a contribution;
	(4)  what the cost of postage was for official departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004;
	(5)  what the cost was of purchasing official departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004;
	(6)  how many official Christmas cards were sent out by his Department in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Maria Eagle: The Department does not co-ordinate the purchase and distribution of Christmas cards centrally. However, Christmas cards for Ministers and the Permanent Secretary are co-ordinated within the Department's Private Office and the following table details the number of cards purchased, together with the cost of these, for both 2003 and 2004.
	
		
			  Ministers Permanent Secretary 
		
		
			 2003   
			 Quantity 1,050 130 
			 Cost (£) 1,502 229 
			 2004   
			 Quantity 1100 130 
			 Cost (£) 1,649 210 
		
	
	All of the official Christmas cards sent out by Ministers and the Permanent Secretary included a contribution to charity. This contribution will be split equally, by the company from which they were purchased, between 70 different charities. Two staff were responsible for the ordering of these cards; however, the amount of time taken up on preparation is not available—the work is carried out alongside normal duties.
	It is our policy to send mail by second class post wherever possible. The cost of postage for these cards is not recorded separately. All expenditure incurred in the purchase of official Christmas cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.
	Christmas cards are also sent out by the Department's Executive Agencies, and I have asked the respective chief executives of these agencies to write to the hon. Member separately. A copy of the letters will be placed in the Library.

Departmental Policies

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Edinburgh North and Leith constituency, the effects on Edinburgh North and Leith of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
	Since 2001, the Government have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Edinburgh North and Leith will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled three and four-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	In 2002–03 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
	The figures can be broken down to national level which shows that 23 per Cent. of adults and 6 per cent. of children in Scotland are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
	Information on the numbers of customers in Edinburgh North and Leith who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the table.
	
		Edinburgh North and Leith
		
			 Operational year DLA/AA recipients 
		
		
			 2001 4,900 
			 2002 4,800 
			 2003 5,300 
			 2004 5,500 
		
	
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; in Edinburgh North and Leith, the proportion in employment has risen to 76.6 per cent.
	Our New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the New Deals, with over 1,700 in Edinburgh North and Leith alone.
	Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 2002–03) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 1996–97. Since 2001–02 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 2001–02. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 1,400 families in Edinburgh North and Leith.
	We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly £10 billion more in 2004–05 (in 2004–05 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
	Our reforms include the state second pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. Pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of October 2004, around 3,265 pensioners in Edinburgh North and Leith are receiving pension credit, with an average award of £42.90 per week.
	We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2004–05) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and £300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70+ payment of £100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
	The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80+ annual payment is available in the Library.
	Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their basic state pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent. respectively. Some 11,000 pensioners in Edinburgh North have benefited from this increase.

Departmental Policies

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Hull, North constituency, the effects on Hull, North of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
	Since 2001 the Government have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Hull, North will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly families with severely disabled three and four-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	In 2002–03 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
	The figures can be broken down to regional level which shows that 25 per cent. of adults and 4 per cent. of children in the Yorkshire and Humberside region are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
	Information on the numbers of customers in Hull, North who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the following table.
	
		Hull, North parliamentary constituency
		
			 Operational year DLA/AA recipients 
		
		
			 2001 6.4 
			 2002 6.8 
			 2003 7.2 
			 2004 7.5 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre.
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; in Hull, North, the proportion in employment has risen to 63.3 per cent.
	Our New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the New Deals, with over 4,300 in Hull, North alone.
	Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures for 2002–03 show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 1996–97. Since 2001–02 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18 years old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 2001–02. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 3,400 families in Hull, North.
	We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly £10 billion more in 2004–05 (in 2004–05 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
	Our reforms include the state second pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. Pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of October 2004, around 4,760 pensioners in Hull, North are receiving pension credit, with an average award of £39.61 per week.
	We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2004–05) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and £300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally for this year eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70 plus payment of £100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
	The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80 plus annual payment are available in the Library.
	Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their basic state pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 12.6 thousand pensioners in Hull, North have benefited from this increase.

New Deal (Selby)

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Selby parliamentary constituency have found work through the (a) New Deal for Young People, (b) New Deal for Disabled People, (c) New Deal for 25 plus and (d) New Deal for 50 plus.

Jane Kennedy: The information is in the table.
	
		New Deal in Selby
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 New Deal for Young People 560 
			 New Deal 25 plus 260 
			 New Deal 50 plus 140 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. New Deal for Young People information is from January 1998 to September 2004.
	2. New Deal 25 plus information is from July 1998 to September 2004.
	3. New Deal 50 plus information relates to the number of New Deal 50 plus employment credit starts up to the end of March 2003. New Deal 50 plus information is not available at constituency level after March 2003.
	4. New Deal for Disabled People data are not available at constituency level.
	5. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate

Outsourced Contracts

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice he (a) gives and (b) has given to contractors regarding the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations in respect of outsourced contracts
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Jane Kennedy: We do not give specific advice to our contractors regarding the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) as they should seek their own legal advice.
	We have, on some occasions, indicated whether we believe TUPE is or is not likely to apply. Where we have considered TUPE likely to apply and services were being provided by our own staff, we have supplied information regarding the staff within the undertaking and have indicated to potential contractors that we shall comply with Cabinet Office guidance (Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector).

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of people who would be entitled to pension credit if (a) every pensioner individual and (b) pensioner couple was paid the full basic state pension regardless of their contribution record.

Malcolm Wicks: It is estimated that if all people past State Pension age were paid the full basic state pension regardless of their contribution record in 2005–06 that 1.6 million individual pensioners would no longer have entitlement to pension credit. This would reduce the projected level of entitlement to pension credit from 4.8 to 3.2 million people.
	Notes
	1. The figures are for Great Britain, excluding cases in residential care homes, and rounded to the nearest hundred thousand for 2005–06. 2. The change in entitlement was calculated using the Department for Work and Pensions' Policy Simulation Model for 2005–06, and based on the Family Resources Survey 2002–03. 3. The projections of entitlement are indicative only until the publication of the National Statistics estimates of Income-Related benefits.

Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged 54 years and over were contracted out with an appropriate personal pension or stakeholder pension into which age-related rebates were paid in the 2002–03 tax year.

Malcolm Wicks: At the end of the 2002–03 tax year there were 133,000 people aged 54 and over who qualified for an age-related rebate to be paid into their appropriate personal pensions, (including stakeholder pensions). These rebates would have been paid in the following tax year.
	Source
	"Second Tier Pension Provision" published by the Department for Work and Pensions using the Lifetime Labour Market Database which uses a 1 per cent. sample of national insurance records.

Unallocated Expenditure

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of his Department's unallocated expenditure has been (a) spent and (b) carried over to the following year in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security (DSS), the Employment Service (ES) and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment (DfEE). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) were added in 2002–03. The information requested has been provided from 2001 when the Department came into existence.
	All of the Department's funding is allocated over the Spending Review period with the exception of a relatively small departmental unallocated provision (DUP). The Department follows Treasury Public Spending Guidance in maintaining this contingency fund from which unforeseen demands on resources can be met. The amounts set aside for the DUP at the beginning of each year, the amounts expended during the year and the amounts carried forward to the following year are shown in the following table.
	
		
			£ millions 
			  Unallocated provision at start of year Expended during year Provision carried forward at the end of year 
		
		
			 2001–02 56 9 47 
			 2002–03 94 0 94 
			 2003–04 105 103 2

China

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects a decision to be made on whether to lift the European Union's arms embargo on China.

Denis MacShane: EU leaders discussed this issue at the European Council in December 2004. Luxembourg, as incoming EU Presidency, was invited to
	"finalise the well-advanced work in order to allow for a decision."
	No date has yet been set for a decision. But as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the Committee on Strategic Export Controls on 12 January, it is more likely than not that this will be decided under this Presidency.

Iran

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran regarding its demand that Baha'is cease communal activities; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We have serious concerns about the situation of the Baha'i community in Iran, which we have raised with the Iranian authorities on many occasions, most recently on 24 November 2004. In December 2004, the UK and other EU countries co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Iran at the United Nations General Assembly which expressed serious concern at, among other subjects,
	"the increased discrimination against the Baha'is, including . . . the denial of free worship or of publicly carrying out communal affairs . . . and the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities".

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Coalition Provisional Authority complied with United Nations resolution 1483, concerning control of Iraq's oil revenues; what assessment he has made of whether those funds were independently monitored and fully accounted for; whether the auditor appointed in April 2004 has reported; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1483 of 22 May 2003 called for Iraq's oil revenues to be used in a transparent manner for purposes benefiting the Iraqi people, and export sales of petroleum and petroleum products to be made consistent with international market best practice. An International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) was also established to ensure the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) was used in a transparent manner for the purposes set out in UNSCR 1483.
	On 14 December 2004 the IAMB released its report covering Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) management of the DFI from 22 May 2003 to the end of occupation on 28 June 2004. This was based on two audit reports to the IAMB prepared by the external auditor (KPMG). Reports are available on the lAMB's website at www.iamb.info.
	Both audit reports conclude that, with the exception of smuggling, "the DFI Statement of Cash Receipts and Payment presents fairly, in all material respects, the receipts and payments of the DFI". The IAMB report recognises that "all known oil proceeds, reported frozen assets, and transfers from the Oil-for-Food Programme have been properly and transparently accounted for in the DPI".

Iraq

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations for (a) the winding up of the UN Compensation Commission as soon as the new Iraqi Government is formed and (b) the return of all unspent monies to the new Iraqi Government.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 2 February 2005
	The UK recognises the importance of the compensation issue to Iraq but also to those individuals, States, and corporations with outstanding claims. Under UN Security Council Resolution 1483, Iraqi payments to the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) can be changed only by a decision of a sovereign Iraqi Government and of the UNCC Governing Council.

Turkey

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Turkish Government on political prisoners being held in Turkey; how many political prisoners are being held in custody by the Turkish authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Estimates of those in detention for political offences vary. The recent release of many prisoners in Turkey, as a result of the new Turkish Penal Code, has made estimation even harder. However, according to the Turkish Ministry of Justice there are currently 3,757 individuals detained for "political offences". This figure includes those convicted under the Anti-Terror Law, and Articles 125, 146, 168, 169 of the current Turkish Penal Code.
	The UK has made clear to the Turkish authorities that European values do not permit detention of citizens on account of their political beliefs. A package of constitutional amendments was adopted by Turkey in May 2004 that included affirmation that international human rights agreements take precedence over domestic law. The European Commission's 2004 regular report on Turkey noted that the
	"courts have continued to apply the reforms"
	and that as a result
	"the situation of people sentenced for non-violent expression of opinion is now being addressed".

Alzheimer's

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Alzheimer's disease patients are being treated in West Derbyshire; what the total spending on drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease was in West Derbyshire in each of the last three years; what assessment he has made of the availability of drugs for moderately-severe to severe Alzheimer's disease in West Derbyshire; how much was spent by the NHS on drug treatments for advanced Alzheimer's disease patients in West Derbyshire in each of the last three years; and what measures have been taken to assist carers of patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease in West Derbyshire.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected in the format requested. Drugs used for dementia as defined in the British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.11 are specifically indicated for use in dementia in Alzheimer's sufferers. The table shows the number of prescription items and net ingredient cost of all drugs used for dementia in Alzheimer's disease that were dispensed in the community in primary care trusts (PCTs) in the Derbyshire area in 2001, 2002 and 2003. It is not possible to provide information on any other prescription drugs that patients with Alzheimer's disease may receive, since information is not available on the reasons why a prescription drug is prescribed.
	The information covers prescriptions that are dispensed in the community only. It does not include items dispensed in hospitals or mental health trusts where they are known to be used significantly. Prescribing practices of drugs for dementia will vary across PCTs.
	
		Number of prescription items and net ingredient cost of all drugs for dementia that were dispensed in the community in PCTs in West Derbyshire and in England—2001, 2002 and 2003
		
			  Number of prescription items (000) Net ingredient cost (£000) 
			  2001 2002 2003 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Amber Valley PCT 0.3 0.7 0.9 21.8 59.0 73.1 
			 Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire PCT 0.2 0.4 0.6 13.3 33.7 49.1 
			 High Peak and Dales PCT 0.6 1.0 1.5 38.0 65.6 106.7 
			 Total West Derbyshire 1.0 2.1 3.0 73.0 158.3 228.9 
			 England 122.1 231.3 358.2 11,004.6 20,567.1 31,347.5 
		
	
	Notes on prescribing data:
	1. PCA data covers all prescription items that are dispensed in the community in England, (this covers items dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.
	PCA data does not include items dispensed in hospitals/mental health trusts or private prescriptions. PCA data includes the PCT in which the drug for dementia was dispensed in.
	2. Drugs for dementia are defined in the British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.11 "Drugs for dementia" and include donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept), galantamine (Reminyl), memantine hydrochloride (Ebixa) and rivastigmine (Exelon).
	3. Doctors, dentists or nurses write prescriptions on a prescription form. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item.
	4. Net ingredient cost refers to the basic cost (which the dispenser is reimbursed) of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.
	Source:
	Prescription cost analysis (PCA) data from the Prescription Pricing Authority.
	With respect to the cost of drug treatments for patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease, according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) records, there is one licensed product, Ebixa (memantine hydrochloride), which is indicated for the treatment of patients with moderately-severe to severe Alzheimer's disease.
	Ebixa was first dispensed in the community on prescription in the last quarter (October to December) of 2002, so data prior to that is not available. The PCA data reports that in 2003, around 7,600 prescription items of Ebixa were dispensed in the community in England with a net ingredient cost of 636,300, or two per cent, of the cost of all dementia drugs. Due to reasons of confidentiality, the Department does not release sub-national level prescription data where less than 50 items of a drug have been dispensed. Data on the cost of Ebixa in the Derbyshire area cannot be provided as the numbers were too small to be disclosed.
	Both the Derbyshire Mental health services national health service trust and the PCTs in West Derbyshire confirm that they follow National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisal guidance relating to the use of Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Galantamine [guidance no. 19] for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
	NICE is currently reviewing this guidance, which will include an assessment of Ebixa. In the meantime, PCTs and individual trusts, when considering the funding of this treatment, are expected to use their existing prescribing arrangements and consider all the evidence available to them on the clinical effectiveness of the treatment.
	NICE has not yet completed its revision of guidance No. 19 with regard to the drug Memantine, which is indicated for patients with severe Alzheimer's disease. It is a matter for individual PCTs and NHS trusts to consider whether this drug be made available in the interim period.
	In terms of measures taken to assist carers of patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease in West Derbyshire, Derbyshire Dales Crossroads receives a combined amount of £95,000 per annum from:
	High Peak and the Dales PCT
	Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire PCT
	Social services
	Crossroads is a national organisation committed to providing practical support—where it is most needed—in the home. Trained care staff go into carers' homes to take over the caring tasks, giving carers a much needed break.

Ambulance Services

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) instructions and (b) policy guidelines on proposed mergers of ambulance services have been given by his Department to health authorities.

Rosie Winterton: No specific guidance has been issued to the national health service on proposed mergers of ambulance services.
	However, under section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, NHS bodies are under a duty to consult and involve patients, the public and their representatives in the planning of changes to services and to involve them in decisions affecting the operation of services. Should a proposal to change services represent a substantial development or variation, NHS bodies are under a duty to consult relevant local authority overview and scrutiny committees.
	Once the results of these consultations are known, if the trust boards and strategic health authority agree that a merger should take place, they are required to write to the Secretary of State for Health asking that the Department take action to merge the organisations. If that request is approved by Ministers, an order will be drawn up dissolving the organisations in question and creating a replacement organisation.
	There are no set standards for what the Secretary of State would take into account when considering a request to merge NHS organisations. But as a general rule, before approving the merger of any NHS trusts, the Secretary of State would seek to satisfy himself that:
	appropriate consultation has been undertaken locally;
	any organisational changes are in the interests of patients and staff; and
	the merger will help improve performance against the requirements and standards set out in National Standards, Local Action and other relevant documents.

Conquest Hospital

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been made involving direct admission of children to the paediatric department rather than the accident and emergency department at the Conquest Hospital in East Sussex.

Rosie Winterton: In line with our policy of "Shifting the Balance of Power", it is now for primary care trusts (PCTs) in partnership with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and other local stakeholders to plan, develop and improve services for local people.
	An ambulatory service at the Conquest Hospital operates seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm. This service has been up and running for quite some time. Specially trained nurses and doctors assess and treat children without the need for them to be admitted. The children can go home supported by specially trained community nurses and the reassurance that help and advice is just a phone call away.
	Children attending accident and emergency with medical conditions during the above hours are referred straight to the ambulatory service on the children's unit. Children's trauma is dealt with in A and E and those children requiring admission are admitted to the children's ward in the normal manner.

Freedom of Information

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what categories of information are available under Freedom of Information legislation that have not been provided in written parliamentary answers by his Department in the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. Leslie) on 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 140W.

Health Funding (Cambridgeshire)

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) grant levels calculated on the capitation formula basis and (b) amount of grant paid to (i) the East Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust and (ii) the Fenland Primary Care Trust (A) were in each year before the merger of the trusts and (B) have been in each year since the merger.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 1 July 2004, Official Report, column 408W.

NHS Dentists

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what aspects of the implementation of the new contract for NHS dentists have led to the delay in the transfer of responsibility for dental services to primary care trusts.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member the written ministerial statement on national health service dentistry reforms, made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on 10 January 2005, Official Report, columns 6–8WS.

NHS Modernisation Agency

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what it has cost (a) to create and (b) to run (i) the NHS University and (ii) the NHS Modernisation Agency; and what the Modernisation Agency achieved during its existence.

John Hutton: There were no specific additional costs associated with the creation of the NHS University (NHSU) and the Modernisation Agency (MA). The operating costs for these bodies for 2003–04 were set out in the document, "Reconfiguring the Department of Health's Arm's Length Bodies", published in July 2004.
	The NHSU has provided thousands of national health service staff with access to training and development programmes. For the period 16 July 2003 to 11 January 2005, there have been 41,008 staff enrolments onto NHSU programmes. The MA has engaged at least 150,000 NHS staff in several thousand improvement projects, benefiting patients in many aspects of health care in England.
	Some of the functions of the NHSU and the MA will be brought together in the NHS Institute for Learning, Skills and Innovation, so that these achievements can be built on in a more integrated way.

Nurse Numbers

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses, (b) health visitors, (c) practice nurses and (d) school nurses were employed (i) in England and (ii) in Northampton in (1) 1997 and (2) 2004.

John Hutton: The number of nurses, health visitors and practice nurses employed in England and in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic Health Authority (SHA) in 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which data is available, is shown in the table.
	The Government collected information on the school nursing work force in the September 2003 non-medical work force census, but this information was incomplete. Information on the number of school nurses employed in the national health service will be available from the September 2004 non-medical work force census, expected to be published in March 2005.
	
		All NHS qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, including practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs) 1 in England and Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA area as at 30 September(14) each year Headcount
		
			  1997 2003 
		
		
			 England   
			 All qualified nurses (including practice nurses) 318,856 386,359 
			 of which:   
			 Health visitors 12,410 12,984 
			 School nurses n/a 476 
			 Practice nurses 18,389 21,667 
			
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA area 
			 All qualified nurses (including practice nurses) 8,626 9,589 
			 of which:   
			 Health visitors 364 318 
			 School nurses n/a 2 
			 Practice nurses 522 548 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable
	1 UPEs include general medical service (QMS) unrestricted principals, personal medical service (PMS) contracted general practitioners and PMS salaried GPs.
	(13) Practice nurse figures as at 1 October for 1997.
	(14) School nurses were identified separately for the first time in the 2003 Census so these figures may not represent a complete data set.
	Source:
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census
	Department of Health QMS and PMS statistics.

Official Residences

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the official residences for which his Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the occupants of each make towards running costs; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure has been on those properties in each of the past five years; how much money was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 2003–04; how many (i) domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment was in 2003–04.

Rosie Winterton: The Department and its Executive agencies has no residential properties on its estate.

Paddington Health Campus

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list meetings which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had within the last six months to discuss the Paddington Health Campus; and with whom each meeting was held in each case.

John Hutton: holding answer 24 January 2005
	In the past six months, I have had three meetings about the Paddington Health Campus scheme.
	On 17 January 2005, I met with my hon. Friend the Member for Regent's Park and Kensington, North (Ms Buck), Jo Heggarty (Chair, Westminster Primary Care Trust), and Peter Coates (Department of Health).
	On 11 January 2005, I met with Caro Millington (Chair, North West London Strategic Health Authority), Baroness Joan Hanham (Chair, St. Mary's Hospital Trust), Lord Tony Newton (Chair, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital Trust), Professor Sir Leszek Brysiewitcz (Deputy Rector of Imperial College), and Peter Coates (Department of Health).
	On 19 July 2004, I met with my hon. Friend (Ms Buck), the hon. Member for Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Field), Helen Jones (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister), and Jane Everton (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister).
	John Bacon, Group Director of Health and Social Care Services Delivery had a meeting about the Paddington Health Campus scheme.
	On 11 August 2004, he met with Nick Searl Project Director, Chelsfield Construction, Howard Wright Project Director, Chelsfield Construction, John Anderson Director of Chelsfield Construction, and Steve Peacock Acting Chief Executive of North West London Strategic Health Authority.
	In the same period, there have been a considerable number of meetings between officials and officials with representatives from the trusts, other advisors, the private sector parties so far involved in the project, officials from Westminster city council and other interested parties. Details of all these appointments have been placed in the Library.

Safety of Medicines

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how regularly his Department reviews the role of (a) the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and (b) the Committee on the Safety of Medicines.

Rosie Winterton: The full range of operations of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have been reviewed regularly. Most recently, for example, a value-for-money audit was conducted by the National Audit Office. Its findings were represented in January 2003. This was followed up by a Public Accounts Committee report in June 2003.
	There are no formal arrangements for review of the Committee on the safety of Medicines (CSM), but in February 2004, the Government asked the MHRA to launch a public consultation on proposals to review the structure of the Medicines Act advisory bodies, including the CSM, to reflect the changes in the regulatory framework that have taken place in recent years. The Government are taking forward the results of this consultation and changes to the structure of the advisory bodies will be introduced in the autumn of 2005.
	The Minister responsible, the Under-Secretary of State (Lord Warner), has regular meetings with the chairman and chief executive to review progress on their annual work plan and holds an annual accountability meeting with them.

Strategic Health Authorities

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed by each of the strategic health authorities in England; what the running costs of each authority were in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the future of the strategic health authorities.

John Hutton: At present, there are no current plans for changes to strategic health authorities (SHAs).
	The total number of staff, including medical staff, employed by SHAs in September 2003 was 3,663 (3,375 whole time equivalents) 1 . Around 1,660 were engaged in core SHA functions 2 . The rest ran deaneries, workforce development confederations and other functions 3 on behalf of SHAs.
	1 Source for total number of staff: Department of Health non-medical workforce census and medical and dental workforce census.
	2 Source for core staff: internal validation exercise. Core staff are SHA employees funded by the Department of Health cash limit. 3 In addition to the core staff shown in table 1, further staff are employed to provide common/shared services for the national health service, workforce development confederations, cancer teams and deaneries.
	The number of core staff employed in each SHA is shown in table 1.
	
		Table 1
		
			 Reference Strategic health authority Core staff 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 63 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 54 
			 Q03 Essex 60 
			 Q04 North West London 66 
			 Q05 North Central London 57 
			 Q06 North East London 47 
			 Q07 South East London 77 
			 Q08 South West London 39 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 66 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 70 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 51 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire 57 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire 56 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester 49 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside 60 
			 Q16 Thames Valley 54 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 76 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway 84 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex 49 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 64 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula 60 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset 53 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire 58 
			 Q24 Trent 55 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 56 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire 59 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country 48 
			 Q28 West Midlands 72 
			 Total  1,660 
		
	
	Running cost budgets for SHAs in 2004–05 are shown in table 2.
	
		Table 2
		
			  £000 
			 Strategic health authority 2004–05 resource allocation 
		
		
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 5,101 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 4,572 
			 Essex 5,466 
			 North West London 4,581 
			 North Central London 4,479 
			 North East London 4,791 
			 South East London 4,577 
			 South West London 4,581 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 4,532 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 5,074 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 4,533 
			 West Yorkshire 5,086 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 4,581 
			 Greater Manchester 5,106 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 5,110 
			 Thames Valley 5,101 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 4,524 
			 Kent and Medway 4,962 
			 Surrey and Sussex 5,057 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 5,073 
			 South West Peninsula 4,563 
			 Dorset and Somerset 5,232 
			 South Yorkshire 4,873 
			 Trent 4,783 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 5,288 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 4,798 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 6,094 
			 West Midlands South (Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire) 4,553 
			 Total 137,072

Swale Primary Care Trust

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds he will allocate to mental health treatment in Swale primary care trust for (a) children and (b) those over 60 years in the next financial year.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Any decisions on the range of primary care services to be made available in local areas are prioritised and led by primary care trusts (PCTs). This is in line with our policy of Shifting the Balance of Power, which is now reinforced by financial allocations to PCTs. In this way, we are putting resources in the hands of the front line of the national health service alongside their responsibilities for developing and running services.
	Between 2003–04 and 2005–06, Swale PCT will receive an increase in funding in excess of £23 million (32 per cent.). The allocations policy for 2003–04 to 2005–06 is based on moving all PCTs progressively closer to their target allocation. Swale PCT received above average growth in each of these years.
	In the three years to March 2006, the Government are investing over £300 million in the development of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) provided by the NHS and local authorities. This is additional to their spending on CAMHS funded by general allocations. The total level of expenditure in 2005–06 is a matter for local decision. In 2005–06, the Department will be allocating an additional £97,000 to Swale PCT and £1.7 million to Kent county council. This funding will help to achieve the Department's public service agreement standard of a comprehensive CAMHS in every area by 2006.